Stair carpet securing strip



Feb. 9, 1932. H. E. cATHcARD STAIR CARPET SEGURING STRIP 6 f INVENTOR, .f2/arly E ard BY/ l 7% ATTORNEYS,

Filed Feb. 27, 1930 llllllllllllllllll Patented Feb. 9, 1932 HARRY E. CA'IHCARD, OF INDEPENDENCE, MISSOURI STAIR CARPET SECURING STRIP Application led February 27, 1939. Serial No. 431,787.

This invention relates to improvements in carpet securing strips and especially to carpet securing strips adapted to secure a stair carpet to the stair structure adjacent the tread ,5l and riser.

lhe principal object of the present invention is the provision of a carpet securing strip comprising an elongated member having its end portions offset with relation to its body portion so that when the carpet is attached thereto and the saine is secured to the stair, the carpet will lay smoothly over the stair steps and the padding with its outer edges positioned snugly against the stair tread.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a carpet securing strip formed of an elongated angled member having its end portions offset from the body portion thereof, said ofl'set portions being positioned in parallel relation to the body portion and in alignment with each other, said angled member having a series of holes formed therein whereby thread may be stitched therethrough to secure the strip to the carpet.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a carpet securing strip and adjustable means for securing it to the stairs in spaced relation to the tread and riser so as not to mar the same.

A yet further object of the present invention is the provision of a carpet securing strip which prevents sagging of the carpet at the riser, allows Yfor fold to be made in carpet on riser of step, allows easy removal of carpet for cleaning purposes and does not injure carpet where strip is attached.

Other objects of this invention are simplicity and economy of construction, ease of operation and adaptability to stairs of various shapes and sizes. These objects are attained by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure l is a perspective view of a stair structure provided with a carpet which is secured thereto by means of a carpet securing strip embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional View taken on line II-II of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a stair tread and riser showing the strip and its securing means in position.

Fig. l is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken on line lV-IV of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view .showing the intermediate carpet strip secur ing member in operative position.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the carpet securing strip attached to the carpet and also to the padding or lining which is positioned beneath the carpet.

Fig. 7 is a perspective View partly broken away of the carpet securing strip.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view partly broken away of a modilied form of the carpet strip which is of angular cross section and provided with but one series of holes.

Fig. 9 is another moditied form of the carpet securing strip which is ofa flat construction.

Fig. 10 is a front elevation of a modified form of the carpet securing strip in which. the end portions thereof are offset in two directions from the intermediate body portion thereof.

Fig. ll is a plan view of the modified form as shown in Fig. 10.

Like reference characters designate similar parts throughout the several views and the numeral l2 designates a stair construction provided with threads 14 and risers 1G. Vhile l have shown the conventional straight stair construction, yet it will be apparent that the present invention may be applied to other types such as spiral stairs, curved stars, etc.

Much difficulty has been encountered in properly positioning and securing carpets to stairs, due to the fact that usually a padding is used which is placed beneath the carpet and extends to a line a few inches from the outer edge thereof, thus permitting the outer edge of the carpet to become loose and unsightly. Another objection to the present method of attaching stai r carpets is that the carpet is not sufficiently held to its full width to prevent the carpet from wrinlling. Thepresent invention overcomes these difficulties and provides a secure and accurate positioning of a carpet without the services of an especially skilled mechanic.

The carpet securing strip 18 is preferably made of a strong and rigid material formed into a long st-rip of angled cross section. The lower leg or hase portion 20 of angle 18 is preferably of uniform planar relation throughout its entire length while the upturned flange 22 is offset at its end portions 24 in such a manner that said end portions are in parallel relation with the main body portion thereof and in alignment with each other.

The base port-ion 2() and flange 22 are provided with a series of holes 26 and 28 respectively. These holes are positioned preferably in substantially the center of said base portion and flange respectively, thus causing the holes adjacent opposite ends of the strip to be offset from the main series. The edges of the metal around said holes is preferably rounded so that they will be free from sharp edges for reasons hereinafter set forth. Corresponding holes of the series 2'6 and 28 are preferably in alignment to facilitate the sewing operation when the carpet is sewed to the strip 18 by means of thread or cord 8U as clearly shown in Fig. 6. In performing this sewing operation, the carpet is first pressed down into the angled corner ofV strip 18 and the needle passed through one hole of the series 26, through the carpet, and then through one of the holes of the series 28. rfhis sewing operation is continued until the strip 18 is attached throughout its entire length to the under side of the carpet.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be noted that the carpet 82 overlaps both ends of the strip 18, thus completely concealing it from view, while at the same time the carpet is .held rmly substantially throughout its entire width to the strip thereby preventing any gathering of the carpet toward the center of the stair. The strip 18 is secured to the stair structure adjacent the junction of the tread and riser by means of screws 44 which are mounted as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 8 in the tread and riser in such relation that the heads thereof will engage the strip adjacent its ends to secure it in posit-ion. T o hold the strip in spaced relation to the tread and riser, each of the screws 44 is provided with a washer 46 which is positioned between the stair structure and the strip when in the operative position.

Attached to the riser 16 by means of screws V34 adjacent the center of the strip 18, is a clamping member 36 having Y down-turned spaced apart lingers 88 which engage the opposite side of liange 22 to secure the strip in fixed relation with the stair. The outer face 89 of the outer fingers 38 may be tapered as shown in Fig. 4 to prevent excessive bulging of the carpet. Vhen the strip usedis extra long, any suitable number of these clamping members 36-may lbe used, also when the strip is short, they may be dispensed with entirely.

A padding or lining 40 of a width slightly narrower than the width of the stair carpet is placed on the tread beneath said carpet and secured to the strip 18 by means of thread 42 as clearly shown in Fig. 6. To prevent undue wear of the carpet, the padding 40 usually extends over the front edge of the tread 14 to serve as a cushion for the carpet. With the carpet padding and strip positioned as described above, with the carpet securely attached' to the irregular strip 18, it will be noted that the carpet will lay smoothly over the padding with its outer edges drawn snugly against the tread. l/Vhen thicker padding is used, it may be necessary to offset the ends of strip-18 a4 greater distance from the :body

portion thereof in order to maintain the carpet in the proper position. When the strip is to be sewed to the carpet as described above, a straight line is first drawn across the underside of the carpet and then the carpet is sewed thereto so that the line will register with the outer irregular line of the base 20 of the@0 strip, thus giving it fthe proper form to fit the strip and padding.

l/Vhen positioning strip 18 on the stairs, the screws 44 are loosened so that one end of the strip may be slid there-beneath and since the offset portion of the strip is made sulhciently long to permit considerable longitudinal movement of the strip, the opposite -end of strip 18 may be moved to the inside of the opposite set of screws 44 to permit the proper insertion of the saine there-beneath; when 18 is thus properly positioned, the screws 44 may be screwed down tightly there-against to prevent any accidental longitudinal movement ofthe strip. ,Y

- Referring to Fig. 2 which shows the carpet folded at 49 adjacent the riser, it will be noted that this is accomplished without reducing the width of the stair tread any more than the thickness of the'carpet of the fold. This is accomplished by using the strip 18 which is not offset at its ends, and is provided with perforated base portion 20 and flange 22 and permits the changing of the position of the wearing parts of the carpet. When irregular shaped stairs are being carpeted, irregular folds may be `made at each step without detracting from the appearance of the carpeting.

The strip shown in Fig. 8 has a series of sists of a flat strip 54 having offset end por- L tions 56 and a series of holes 58 extending the entire klength thereof.

Modied form shown in Figs. 10 and 11 comprises an elongated strip 60 of angular Across section and Vhaving offset portions 62 at its opposite ends, said oliset portions being ollset diagonally to the body portion of said angled strip and parallel therewith. T'Wo ot holes 6ft are formed in the strip 6() throughout its entire length.

lt is not desired to limit this structure to the structures shown and described since many inodiiications may be made Within the scope oit the appended claims Without departin troni the spirit thereof.

llhat l claim and desire to secure by Letters `Patent is:

l. its a new article or manufacture, a carpet securing strip comprising an elongated member ol angular cross section having its end portions olliset from the body portion tliiereot, said ollset end portions being positioned in parallel relation to said body portion and in alignment with each other.

9. its a nenT article of manufacture, a carpet securing strip comprising an elongated member having its end portions similarly olfset trom the body portion thereoiz and having two series ol.I spaced apart holes through which thread may be passed to secure the carpet to the strip the axes of the holes of one oit said series being at an angle to the aires oll the holes ot the other series.

lil. a new article of manufacture, a carpet securing strip comprising an elongated member, ot angular' cross-section, having its ond portions similarly otfset and having' holes formed therein through which thread may be passed to secure the carpet to the strip.

it. its a new article of manufacture, a carpet securing strip comprising an elongated member having a base portion and an upturncd flange at one edge thereof, said hase portion and up-turned flange each having a series ot holes formed therein through which thread may be passed to secure carpet to the strip.

5. its a new article of manufacture, a carpet securing strip comprising an elongated member having its end portions similarly o@ set 'in tivo directions from the body portion thereoi", and having a series of holes adapted to receive thread there-through to secure the strip to the carpet.

The combination With a stair having a tread and riser meeting at an angle; of an elongated carpet securing strip secured in laced relation to said tread and riser With its inner portion spaced a greater distance from said riser than are its end portions.

i". 'lhe combination with a stair having a tread and riser meeting at an angle; of an elongated carpet securing strip secured in wired relation to said tread and riser with its inner portion spaced greater distances il'rom said tread and riser respectively than are its corresponding end portions.

Si. rlhe combination with a stair having a tread and riser meeting at an angle; of securing means carried by said tread and riser adjacent the juncture thereof respectively, and an elongated carpet securing strip carried by said securing means in spaced apart relation to said tread and riser, said strip having a series of holes adapted to receive '4'0 thread there-through to secure the strip to the carpet.

9. The combination With a stair having a tread, a riser and a stair carpet; ot' a carpet securing strip ol angular cross section having otfset end portions secured to said stair adjacent the uneture ol"l said tread and riser with its inner portion spaced a greater distance from said riser than are its end portions, and means for securing said strip to said carpet so that the carpet is offset to conform to the shape of the strip.

lO. The combination With a stair having a tread and riser, ot an elongated carpet securing strip ot' angular cross section, means for securing the end portions of said strip to said stair with its inner portion spaced a greater distance from said riser than are its end portions, and means carried by said riser for securing the inner portion ot said strip thereto.

lin testimony whereof l hereunto affix my signature.

HARRY E. CATHCARD. 

